Scientists Unveil Hidden Properties of Rare Element Promethium

New research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory reveals fundamental chemical characteristics of promethium, filling a crucial gap in lanthanide knowledge.

Promethium, discovered in 1945, has been challenging to study due to its scarcity and lack of stable isotopes.
The ORNL team successfully characterized promethium in solution for the first time, using advanced chemical techniques.
This breakthrough provides the first experimental data on promethium's chemical bonds and its place in the lanthanide series.
The findings are expected to aid in the separation and utilization of rare earth elements in various modern technologies.
The study involved extensive collaboration and resources from multiple Department of Energy facilities.